"We are one of the smaller houses in Cognac and produce a small percentage of what the major houses do," says Francois Le Grelle, the Managing Director at the House of Hine. "For us, it's not about growth it's about maintaining the highest level of quality." Founded in 1817, the House of Hine has been in the same family for six generations. In 1791, Thomas Hine the company's founder left his native England in order to learn the art of making cognac. Today, nearly 225 years later, his great-great-great-great grandson, Bernard Hine, oversees the 297-acre Hine Estate. Situated on the banks of the River Charente, the estate benefits from a south-facing aspect, which maximizes the grapes exposure to sunshine and heat. In addition, "we only work with Grande and Petite Champagne where the soils are very chalky," explains Eric Forget, Hine's Cellar Master. "Hine's finesse comes from the terroir." H by Hine VSOP Fine Champagne Cognac is a blend of more than 15 cognacs made from the finest crus in France. After the grapes are harvested and fermented, they are distilled with their fine lees, which helps maintain the richness and structure of the cognac. Following distillation, H by Hine VSOP is aged in fine-grained wood sourced from northern France. "We prefer oak from the north of France because it has a finer grain which gives greater delicacy and less toast," says Forget. In addition, "we don't age too much in new oak as the wood flavors can dominate and hide the fruity and floral elements of the wine." H by Hine VSOP Fine Champagne Cognac is aged for a minimum of four years, and is Hine's most floral cognac. It has a scent of jasmine with a hint of redwood, which gives way to notes of iris, vanilla and carnation. Delicate and aromatic, it finishes with gentle notes of white grapes and a hint of apricots and cinnamon.

Banks Rum is named for the botanist Sir Joseph Banks, an adventurer who sailed with Captain Cook in the mid 18th century. The 5 Island blend is composed of 21 rums from 5 different islands - Trinidad, Jamaica, Guyana, Barbados, and Java, each lending their own unique style, flavors and character. The final formula was created by Master Blender Arnaud de Trabuc, who uses a combination of pot-stilled and column-stilled rums, charcoal filtered for clarity.

TASTING NOTES

"This super funky rum is clear, however the depth of flavor would suggest otherwise. It manages to reveal the rich, blackstrap molasses of the Jamaican rum, mixed with the earthiness of Guyanese, the fruitiness of Barbados, the bitterness of Batavia Arak from Java and the lightness from Trinidad rum to smooth it all out. The flavors are strong and rich, allowing it to be sipped neat, but it's a favorite with bartenders because of its flavor impact in cocktails."

Situated on the banks of Lagavulin Bay on the island of Islay, Lagavulin Distillery is one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland. Distilling took place on the banks of Lagavulin Bay as early as 1742, and by the turn of the century, there were as many as ten illicit stills operating in the area. In 1816, John Johnson founded the first legal distillery on the site, and within a year Archibald Campbell had opened a second. After Johnson's death, Alexander Graham acquired Johnston's distillery for 1,100 and eventually united the two distilleries together under the Lagavulin name. Since that time, the rich, peaty water that runs down the brown burn and through the Solan Lochs into the hills just next to Lagavulin Bay has served as the lifeblood of the distillery. Lagavulin Single Malt Scotch Whisky is known as one of the most intense, smoky single malt whiskies ever made the peated barley used to create Lagavulin Single Malt has up to twenty times more exposure to peat smoke than typical Scotches. Once the grains used to craft Lagavulin Whisky have been harvested and malted, they are dried over a peat and gas fire calibrated specifically to produce Lagavulin's signature, bold flavor profile. The grains are then milled and mashed before being fermented for approximately 72 hours. Following fermentation, the whisky is distilled twice first through a wash still for approximately five hours and then again through a spirit distill for approximately nine hours. This is the slowest distillation process of any Islay distillery, and gives Lagavulin its characteristic round flavors and mellow edges. Lagavulin Distillers Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky is matured for 16 years in traditional, oak casks in the distillery's warehouses. During its maturation, Iain McArthur, Lagavulin warehouseman, ensures that the whisky matures evenly and consistently (McArthur has been working at the distillery for over four decades). After the whisky has matured in traditional oak casks, it is double-barreled, or finished, in casks that were previously used to mature sherry made from Pedro Ximinez grapes. Once harvested, Pedro Ximinez grapes shrivel up to a raisin-like state, which concentrates the sugars in the grape and results in a sweet wine with legendary viscosity and intensity. This double-maturation process complements the intensely smoky notes of the whisky and adds an additional layer of complexity. Lagavulin Distillers Edition Single Malt Scotch has an aroma of intense raisins, prunes and smoke. The initial notes are surprisingly sweet, with subtle hints of caramel, vanilla and dates that are balanced by a smoky undertone. The ever-lasting finish has deep, dark notes of red fruits and a round, bold finish.

Situated along a rugged farm on the western coast of Islay, Kilochman Distillery was founded in 2005 and is the first new distillery on Islay in over 125 years. "When we first started work on Kilchoman in 2003," says Anthony Wills, the distillery's founder, "the ambition was to build a distillery that was true to the traditions of distilling on Islay small farm distillers where every part of the whisky making process was done on site and I think we have managed to do just that." Kilchoman Machir Bay Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky is made from Publican barley grown directly on Kilochman Distillery's campus (Publican barley is more resilient to Islay's harsh weather than traditional strains of barley). Once the barley has been harvested, it is malted at the distillery's malthouse Kilchoman is one of just six distilleries in Scotland that continues to malt its own barley before being dried over a peat flame for ten hours. After the barley has been peated to approximately 20 phenol parts per million, the grains are fermented for three to four days in stainless steel washbacks before being twice distilled through Kilchoman's copper-pot stills. Kilchoman Machir Bay 2013 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky is crafted from a marriage of four and five year-old whiskies that have matured in American oak casks that were previously used to mature bourbon. Following its initial maturation, a portion of the whisky is double-barreled, or finished, for approximately one month in casks that were previously used to mature Oloroso Sherry. "We practice a very strict wood policy regime at Kilchoman, which is crucial in our ability to produce such a high-quality young single malt," says Wills. As a result of the extraordinary strain of barley used to craft the whisky, along with its unique maturation process, the whisky has a peaty aroma with touches of salty tang and citrus. The aroma gives way to notes of vanilla, coconuts, papaya and malt on the palate, which are balanced by hints of cinnamon and baking spices. The finish is peaty and fresh, with a long, lingering touch of vanilla and caramel. Kilchoman Machir Bay Single Malt Whisky was named the Whisky of the Year at the International Whisky Competition in 2013. In addition, the whisky earned the Gold Medal at the International Wine and Spirits Competition in 2012.

For the Willett family, distilling craft whiskey is a family tradition. During Reconstruction, John David Willett the family patriarch began distilling whiskey at the Moore, Willett & Frenke Distillery, which was situated just outside of Louisville, Kentucky. In 1898, his son, A. Lambert Willett who was 15 years old at the time began following in his father's footsteps. Three decades later, Lambert, together with his son, Thompson, purchased a farm on the outskirts of Bardstown, Kentucky, and began construction of the Willett Distilling Company. While the Willett Distilling Company eventually changed its name to Kentucky Bourbon Distillers, the family tradition lives on Even Kulsveen, the current owner of KBD, is Thompson Willett's son-in-law. In keeping with family tradition, Kentucky Vintage Bourbon is an authentic Kentucky straight whiskey. Bottled at a robust 90 proof, the bourbon has a golden chestnut color, along with an aroma of oranges, lemons, clovers and honey. Notes of ginger, caramel apples, roasted nuts and creamy vanilla dominate the palate, and give way to a finish accented by hints of almonds and black pepper. Kentucky Vintage Bourbon won the Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and earned four stars from F. Paul Pacult's Spirit Journal. With its combination of age, taste and proof making it an unparalleled value, Kentucky Vintage Bourbon is one of the best kept secrets on the whiskey market.

Following the defeat of the British at the Battle of Yorktown during the American Revolutionary War in 1781, the territory west of the Appalachian mountains became known as Kentucky County. At the time, the territory was considered part of Virginia, and was overseen by a military governor named John J. Bowman. In order to encourage westward expansion, Virginia issued pioneers who agreed to settle in Kentucky County "corn writs," which granted the pioneers 60 acres of land if they agreed to settle in Kentucky and start farming corn. Within a decade, some 2,000 farmers had settled in Kentucky and were growing corn in an effort to validate their claim to the land. Following the end of the American Civil War, Johnny Drum returned to his native state of Kentucky. Like many pioneers who had settled the state before him, Drum purchased a farm among the rolling bluegrass fields of Kentucky, and staked his claim to a beautiful, limestone spring. After harvesting more corn than he could sell, Drum distilled the excess grains into bourbon. Today, Johnny Drum Private Stock Kentucky Bourbon celebrates the passion and legacy of Johnny Drum. Johnny Drum Private Stock Kentucky Bourbon has an aroma of spicy cinnamon, ginger, oak and caramel. Notes of roasted peanuts, warm cinnamon and vanilla dominate the palate, and are complemented by touches of oak and honey. The finish is smooth yet bold, with lingering spices nestled against hints of citrus and chocolate. Johnny Drum Private Stock earned the Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and was called one of the "best hidden gem whiskies on the market, "by Drink Spirits.

Some years ago, Master Distiller Harlen Davis Wheatley decided to embark on a project to craft the perfect vodka. Through the commitment and meticulous craftsmanship of a dedicated team, HDW CLIX came to fruition. CLIX, or 159 in Roman numerals, represents the 159 separate distillations that were required to produce this ultra-fine vodka.

TASTING NOTES

Polished and smooth upon entry, CLIX is pleasing on the nose and reminiscent of the essence of fresh nectar. Elegant in style, the exclusive character is a combination of exquisite smoothness and interesting nuance. It finishes quickly and cleanly, making for a delicate, refined and stylish drinking experience.

In 1870, Flix Lpez began cultivating blue weber agave from the fields of the San Jos del Refugio Hacienda, situated in Jalisco, Mexico. Since then, expert jimadors have been nurturing the crop at the hacienda, which ultimately came to be known as Casa Herradura. Today, the agave growing Casa Herradura, which can take up to ten years to mature, grow up 2 meters high and weigh nearly 500 pounds, are descendants of the original agave growing on the estate in 1870. Herradura Seleccion Suprema Extra Aejo Tequila is crafted using agave harvested exclusively from the Casa Herradura estate. Once the agave have been harvested, the heart of the plant (the pia) is stripped away from its leaves using a special knife called a coa and cooked for approximately 26 hours in ovens made of stone and brick. During this cooking process, the once-white pias turn a deep orange color, and reveal an incredibly sweet and intense aroma (the pias are so sweet that chunks of cooked agave are often sold as candy in the street markets of Jalisco). Once the pias have been cooked, they are crushed and then fermented for up to seven days using natural, air-borne yeasts. Then, the wash is twice distilled and the tequila is matured for four years in American white oak casks that were formerly used to mature Kentucky bourbon. As a result of this extra-long aging process, the tequila has an aroma of dark vanilla, rose petals, cinnamon and intense citrus. Complex notes of baked apples, pineapples, citrus, vanilla pods and caramel are exposed on the palate, and give way to a creamy finish that has touches of lingering spices. Herradura Seleccion Suprema Extra Aejo Tequila earned the Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2012 and the Platinum Medal at the Spirits International Prestige Awards the same year. In addition, it earned a score of 94 points at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge in 2014, where it was named the Best Extra Aejo Tequila in the World.

Born in 1952, Old Bardstown was an American Thoroughbred racehorse named after the city of Bardstown, Kentucky. Bred and raced by Calumet Farms, the horse twice won Florida's Tropical Handicap at the Tropical Park Race Track as well as the Widener Handicap at the Hialeah Park Race Track. In 31 career starts, Bardstown had 18 first place finishes, 7 second place finishes and 1 third place finish. By the time he retired at the age of 8, Old Bardstown was one of the top racing horses of his time. Old Bardstown Estate Bottled Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey pays homage to the legacy of the American Thoroughbred. The bourbon is made from a mash of primarily corn, which is milled and mashed before being fermented with Kentucky limestone water. Following fermentation, the wash is distilled before the bourbon is matured for ten years in new, American oak casks. Then, the bourbon is brought to 101 proof before being bottled. Old Bardstown Estate Bottled Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey has an auburn-red color, along with an intense aroma of sherry, mint, eucalyptus and copper, somewhat reminiscent of single malt scotch. Notes of nutmeg, caramel, tobacco and chewy leather dominate the palate, and are complemented by hints of malted barley, cherry, and earthy minerals. The finish is medium-long, with touches of fresh herbs, oak and spice. The bourbon earned a score of 95 points from Jim Murray's Whisky Bible, and the Silver Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2012. 

In 1820, Don Juan Sebastian Serralls emigrated from Spain and arrived in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico. After living frugally and saving carefully for many years, Serralls began a small family in the city. Four decades later, his son founded Hacienda Teresa a sugar plantation just outside the city borders. Situated in southern part of Puerto Rico, Hacienda Teresa enjoys generous amounts of sunlight and large flatlands, making it ideal for the cultivation of fresh, juicy sugarcane. In 1865, the Serralls family began distilling the excess sugar cane harvested from Hacienda Teresa into rum. Today, Felix J. Serralls, Jr. a third generation master distiller continues to shepherd his family legacy forward. Don Q Gran Aejo Rum is made from freshly harvested sugar cane, which is crushed before being fermented using a proprietary strain of yeast (the Serralls family has been using the same strain of yeast for over 75 years). Following fermentation, the rum is distilled five times before being matured in American white oak casks. "The interaction of wood and rum matures and mellows the spirit, as well as endows our Gran Aejo with a luxurious golden color," says Serralls. "Our Gran Aejo contains rums aged between 3 and 12 years, creating a balance between sweet and dry that you won't get in other spirits." Once the rums have been aged and blended together, Don Q Gran Aejo Rum is brought to proof with water from the Ro Inabn (in 1898, the family was granted exclusive rights to use water from the river for their rum). The Inabn River travels through Puerto Rico's volcanic mountains and as a result, contributes a slightly earthy and mineral flavor profile to the rum. Don Q Gran Aejo Rum has an aroma of caramelized oranges, citrus zest and herbal vegetables. The aroma gives way to notes of tropical fruits, caramel and vanilla on the palate, and finishes with hints of salty minerals, molasses and coconuts. The rum has won numerous awards, including the Double Gold Medal at the Beverly Hills Competition in 2013 (where it was named "Best in Show"), the Five Star Diamond Award from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences and the Platinum Medal at the 2013 Sip Competition. In addition, it earned a score of 96 points at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge in 2014, which named it the Best Rum in the World.

Situated over 1,000 feet above sea level in the foothills of the Monadhliath Mountains, Tomatin Distillery is one of the highest distilleries in Scotland. Its origins date back to the 15th century when drovers, bringing their cattle over the high mountain passes to the Tomatin market, filled their flasks from a still hidden at the Old Laird's House, which is situated adjacent to the distillery. Since that time, centuries of isolation and generations of family tradition (some workers at the distillery are the fifth generation of their family to work there) have created a distillery rooted in Scottish heritage and tradition. Tomatin 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky is made from plump, Scottish barley. After the barley is harvested, it is mashed and fermented before being distilled twice through Tomatin's copper-pot stills. The stills have a round, flat shape that gives the whisky a rounder and sweeter flavor profile, notes Douglas Campbell, Tomatin's master distiller. Campbell, who began working at the distillery in 1961, joined Tomatin as an accountant, doing clerical work. "After that, the managing director, John McDonald, took me under his wing and gave me the chance to work in different parts of the distillery. I did mashing for three or four years, distilling for a couple of years, worked in the warehouses. Eventually, I was one of the charge hands getting casks ready for dispatch." Campbell has over fifty years of experience at Tomatin Distillery. "My father worked here as a cooper, my wife worked here for 10 years as secretary for the managing director, and my son works here now in the warehouse. I was born in Tomatin, I belong to Tomatin." Once Campbell has distilled the whisky, it is matured for over 15 years in casks that were previously used to age bourbon. After its initial beautyrest, the whisky is double-barreled, or finished, for a minimum of 18 months in Spanish oak casks that were previously used to mature Oloroso Sherry. The Spanish oak casks contribute notes of red fruits, tobacco and honeyed oak to the whisky, and complement its notes of maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon and apple. "The combination of flavours and aromas achieved by the use of these differing casks is fantastic," says Graham Eunson, Tomatin's Distillery Manager. "There's always a sense of anticipation and excitement when you experience a potential new whisky for the first time and in this case, those emotions were well justified." Tomatin 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky earned the Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2014, and was named the "Best Highland Single Malt (13-20 Years of Age)" at the World Whiskies Awards in 2013. In addition, it earned a score of 96 points at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge in 2012, which called the whisky "extraordinary."

Situated along the Grampian Mountains in the Highlands region of Scotland, Dalwhinnie Distillery was founded in 1897 by John Grant, and was originally named Strathspey Distillery. In 1898, Grant declared bankruptcy and sold the distillery to AP Blyth, who renamed the distillery Dalwhinnie. The name, which roughly translates to "meeting place"in ancient Gaelic, is a reference to the cattle farmers who would pause at the distillery on their journey south to the cattle markets in Crieff and Falkirk. Dalwhinnie Single Malt Scotch Whisky is made exclusively from freshly harvested, plump barley, which is milled and mashed with water sourced from Lochan an Doire Uaine (meaning "Loch of the Green Thicket"). The pure spring water, which travels through local peat before reaching the loch (the loch itself is situated 2,000 feet above sea level), imparts a soft yet subtle complexity to the whisky. Since no other distillery may legally use water drawn from Lochan an Doire Uaine, no other distillery is able to replicate the unique, malty-sweet taste of Dalwhinnie Single Malt Scotch Whisky. After the barley has been milled and mashed, it is fermented in the distillery's original, wooden washbacks. While wooden washbacks are more expensive and difficult to maintain as compared to stainless steel washbacks, they absorb a portion of the heat generated during fermentation, and thus, enable a slower and longer fermentation process. Following fermentation, the wash is distilled twice, first through Dalwhinnie's copper-pot wash still, and then again through its copper-pot spirit still. Dalwhinnie Distillers Edition Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky was distilled before being matured for approximately fifteen years in oak casks. After its initial maturation, the whisky was double-barreled, or finished, for an additional year in casks that were formerly used to mature Oloroso sherry, before it was finally bottled. The whisky has an aroma of fresh orchards, honey and soft spices that open up to notes of malt, sweet grapes, heathered spices and honey on the palate, and lead to a long finish with touches of oak and vanilla.

In 1936 Thompson Willett founded Willett Distillery. Today, the tradition continues. The Willett family legacy lives on in Willett Pot Still Reserve. 

Awards 

San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2008: Gold Medal for taste, and the Double Gold Medal for design.

Aged: 8 & 10 Year

Tasting Notes

Nose: Vanilla lemon cake.

Palate: Balance of caramel, vanilla, spices and citrus. 

After inheriting the family recipe in the late 1980s, Tom Bulleit set out to make his own version of the Bulleit Bourbon. "We have a distilling tradition in the family," says Bulleit. "It seems kind of odd that one would have a family recipe for bourbon, but in our part of Kentucky everyone has one." Today they produce a range of four Bourbons and one Rye Whiskey that have received numerous awards, and have become the Spirits of choice for cocktail drinkers around the world. Bulleit Ten Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is made from a mash of corn, rye and malted barley. After the grains are harvested, they are mashed and fermented with a unique strain of family yeast. Following fermentation, the wash is distilled through a copper-still before being matured in charred, American oak casks for a minimum of ten years. "I may be biased, but I think Bulleit Bourbon is incredible at its traditional age of five to eight years," says Bulleit. "But it was exciting to see what happened to a select number of barrels aged a little longer. The result was a special expression of our family's bourbon that exceeded our expectations and we knew we had to bottle it and share it with our loyal fans." Bulliet Ten Year Old Bourbon has a dark caramel color, along with an aroma of toasted oak, rich caramel and sweet fruits. The notes of woody spices, cloves and oak give way to hints of dried fruits, light vanilla and spicy rye on the palate, and lead to a long, slightly sweet finish. The bourbon earned a score of 92 points from the Beverage Testing Institute in 2013, and a score of 91 points from Wine Enthusiast. In addition, Forbes Magazine called it "one of the best bourbons." "There's a difference between aging and maturity, and we'll never bottle bourbon until it's ready to reach the customer," says Bulleit.

Founded in 1982 by German-born J?rg Rupf, St. George Spirits is one of the oldest craft distilleries in the United States. The distillery, housed in an old World War II airplane hangar on a former naval base on the edge of San Francisco, is home to Lance Winters, nuclear engineer, mad scientist and St. George's master distiller, and Dave Smith, St. George's chief blender. Winters and Smith, who are widely-known for experimenting with different types of spirits, have a laboratory dominated by a 10-liter test still, which sits adjacent to the glass beakers and graduated cylinders that cover every inch of their counterspace. Next to the dusty chalkboards caked with equations for the conversion of sugar to alcohol and intricate diagrams of molecular structures are bottles of experimental whiskies, vodkas and even an aging balsamic vinegar (it's 14 years old already). After 30 years of producing their own spirits, St. George Spirits has developed a wicked hobby barrel thieving. Breaking & Entering Bourbon is the product of Winters and Smith going deep into the rickhouses of Kentucky's most venerable bourbon distilleries and selecting 300-plus barrels of bourbon to bring back to California. After sampling each individual barrel (which took three months alone) and experimenting with different blends, Winters and Smith settled on a recipe made up of 80 different barrels, each ranging in age from five to seven years. The result is a criminally delicious bourbon with notes of maple, banana, brown sugar and cinnamon. "We like to think of our spirits as parties in a bottle, and the label is the invitation," says Winters.

Situated in the province of Munster, the Cork Distilleries Company was founded in 1877. Two years after it opened its doors, the distillery began bottling its first whiskey, and in 1882, the company hired a young Corkman named Patrick J. O'Flaherty as their salesman. The classic charmer spent 4 decades selling his whiskey in Ireland. Known for his easygoing personality and generosity, he would ensure everybody around him always had a great time and was always buying rounds for the patrons in the pubs he visited, becoming a universally-loved character. The whiskey's original name was soon forgotten with everybody was starting to order "Paddy whiskey". In 1912, the distillery officially renamed the whiskey Paddy Irish Whiskey in his honor. Today, Paddy Old Irish Whiskey is made from the finest malted and unmalted barley harvested from the East Cork countryside, together with water sourced from river Dungourney. It's a triple-distilled blend of grain, malt, and pot-still whiskey, each component contributing an integral part to the smoothness of the finished spirit: a floral sweetness from the grain, toasted biscuit from the malt, and creaminess from the pot-still. Light, balanced, and pure, it has a rich golden color and deep spice, honey, and vanilla notes. It is matured in 3 different oak casks, before being bottled at 80 proof.

We find it hard to do anything halfway. So when we make our Very Special Old Reserve blend, we really go all out. We wanted it to be rich, have a great body, a nice smell, an exceptional taste and leave a nice feeling in your mouth. It was not easy, but we managed to get it done. This well-aged, premium rum has it all - a beautiful mahogany colour, a lovely toffee, vanilla and oak aroma, a taste suggestive of bourbon and vanilla and a warm oak aftertaste. Yes, it is hard work and takes time… but it is worth it.

​

Known as COCKSPUR 12 in select markets.

Born in December 1839, William Grant became a cattle herder at the age of 7 in order to supplement his family's income. As a teenager, Grant apprenticed as a cobbler and a clerk, and in 1866, he joined Mortlach Distillery as a bookkeeper. For the next two decades, Grant managed the affairs at the distillery, while secretly learning the art of distillation. In 1886, he resigned from his position as distillery manager and bought a field beneath the towering shadows of Balvenie Castle, which he eventually converted into Balvenie Distillery. Today, Balvenie Distillery, situated in the Speyside region of Scotland, remains one of the most independent and prestigious distilleries in all of Scotland. Balvenie Single Malt Whisky is made from fresh, plump barley grown on Balvenie Mains, a 1,000 acre farm situated adjacent to the distillery (the farm has been the distillery's source for barley for over a century). After the barley is harvested, it is malted at the distillery with spring water sourced from the rolling Speyside hills that overlook the distillery. During the malting process, the barley is turned up to four times a day in order to ensure that it germinates evenly (Balvenie is the only single malt Scotch whisky distillery that continues to grow and malt its own barley). Once the barley has been malted, it is milled and mashed at the distillery before being fermented using a proprietary strain of yeast. Following fermentation, the wash is distilled twice, first through Balvenie's copper-pot wash still and then again through its copper-pot spirit still. "The most important reason for using a copper still,"explains Dennis McBain, Balvenie's coppersmith, "is that it acts as a catalyst. It removes any sulphur which may be carried over from the fermentation process prior to distillation." McBain, who joined Balvenie Distillery in 1959, is one of the oldest coppersmiths remaining in the industry. In addition, the size and shape of Balvenie's stills the stills' necks have unique boil balls that are nicknamed "Balvenie Bowls" results in Balvenie's signature bold and malty flavor profile. "The size and shape of the boil ball allow for the vapors to mix before continuing up the head,"explains McBain. "That helps make The Balvenie special." The Balvenie 17 Year Old Doublewood Single Malt Scotch Whisky was originally made in homage to David Stewart (Balvenie's Master Blender), who celebrated five decades of working at the distillery in 2012. Following distillation, The Balvenie 17 Year Old Doublewood matured in traditional, American oak casks before being double-barreled, or finished, in European oak casks that were previously used to mature sherry. As a result of spending seventeen years in oak casks, the whisky has deep notes of vanilla, green apple, and toffee. Aroma of oak, vanilla and green apple. Notes of dark fruits, raspberries, toasted almonds, coffee and butterscotch lead to a finish that is deep and lush, with notes of fruits mingled with spices. Balvenie 17 Year Old Doublewood earned a score of 95 points from The Tasting Panel Magazine, which said that the whisky had a "long, smooth toasty finish" that was "elegant." 

Situated along the banks of the River Derwent on the island of Tasmania, Sullivans Cove was the site of one of Britain's first penal colonies in Australia. In 1804, at the order of the Governor King of the British settlement of New South Wales, Lt. John Bowen transported some of the most heinous British criminals to Sullivans Cove, which eventually developed into the city of Hobart. Hobart was the perfect penal colony the area's dense forests required a huge labor force in order to establish a settlement, and its isolation and inaccessibility ensured there was no escape. Today, the island of Tasmania remains of one the most isolated and natural places on earth approximately 37% of the island is protected as natural reserves. Sullivans Cove Single Malt Tasmanian Whisky is made from barley grown exclusively on the island of Tasmania. "The island's deep red basalt soil, pure water and mild temperatures result in a barley that is perfect for distillation," says Patrick Maguire, the distillery's founder and master distiller (his ancestors were convicts that were imprisoned on the island). In addition, the island has one of the oldest and strictest quarantine programs in the world, ensuring that the barley remains untainted. Once the barley has been harvested, it is malted at the Cascade Brewery by Roger Ibbott, who has over four decades of experience malting barley. The malted barley is then mashed and fermented at Sullivans Cove Distillery using a unique strain of yeast developed specifically for the production of Sullivans Cove Whisky. Then, the wash is twice-distilled through a handmade copper-pot still. "The real trick is to cut the run short, so that only the sweetest, best flavors and purest alcohol from the heart of the run is captured", says Macguire. "It's not the most sensible approach by an accountant's standards, but then it's a good thing that we are not accountants!" Following distillation, Sullivan's Cove Double Cask Single Malt Whisky is matured in a combination of American oak casks that were previously used to mature Jim Beam (two-thirds) and thirty-year old French oak casks that were previously used to mature port (one-third). After maturing for eleven years in each cask, the whiskies are married together, brought to proof and then bottled. Sullivan's Cove Double Cask Single Malt Whisky has an aroma of soft spices and vanilla, which lead to notes of cloves, rock candy and pear. The well-rounded and smooth finish has a touch of oak and milk chocolate. The whisky earned the Gold Medal at the World Whisky Masters in 2011.